Bill 21, an Act to Protect Patients, was introduced and amended the Health Professions Act to establish a treatment and counselling fund for members of the public who have made a complaint of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by a regulated health professional.

The Patient Relations Program provides funding for treatment or counselling to patients who may have been subjected to sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by a registrant of the College.

Program Guidelines:

  • A patient may access funds for up to five years or until the maximum amount of funding has been provided, whichever occurs first.
  • Funds cease if the complaint is dismissed.
  • The patient may choose any regulated health professional to provide treatment or counselling, subject to the following restrictions:
    • The regulated member does not have a conflict of interest (i.e., not a family member)
    • The regulated member is in good standing with their regulatory college
  • Funding can only be used to cover the cost of treatment or counselling for the individual directly involved.

For a patient to be eligible, the following must apply:

  • The College will provide you with an introductory letter explaining the program, which you can then apply to.
  • The College will then assess your eligibility for funding.
  • If you are eligible, the College will follow up in writing with details on how to proceed.

  • Submit your receipts for reimbursement. The College will reimburse you through EFT payments on a monthly basis.
  • The College will provide you with notification on how much funding you have used every 90 days.
  • The College will provide you with notification when you are starting your final year to let you know how much funds are remaining.
  • Once funds are depleted, your five-year period is up, or the complaint is not proven, you will receive a termination letter from the College.

  • The legislation states that funding can be provided for a maximum of $23,200 or for a period of five years, whichever comes first. The five-year period begins the day you become eligible for funding.
  • Funding can only be used to pay for therapy or counselling by a licensed therapist or counsellor related to matters arising from sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by a technologist.
  • All information between you and your therapist or counsellor is strictly confidential; the College just reimburses funds. Being eligible for funding does not automatically mean the technologist is guilty of sexual misconduct.

  • Funding will stop if the complaint is dismissed or the technologist is found not guilty of unprofessional conduct.
  • Will the technologist find out if I’m getting funding for counselling/therapy?
  • If the technologist is found guilty of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by a Hearing Tribunal, the College may seek to recover the costs of your therapy from them. In this case, they will become aware that you have accessed the Patient Relations Program.

The following resources are provided to help you access information and support that may help you.

  • MyHealth Alberta (information source, search “sexual assault” or “sexual abuse”)
  • 211 Alberta 24 Hour Information and Referral Service (search “sexual assault” or “sexual abuse”). You can also reach the Alberta 211 call centres using the following toll-free numbers: 1-855-266-1605 (Calgary, Central Alberta and Southern Alberta) and 1-888-482-4696 (Edmonton and Northern Alberta).
  • Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS)
  • Health Link Alberta (Dial 811)
  • Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton
  • AHS’s new Sexual Assault Healthcare Provider Consult Line is now available 24/7 to healthcare providers to improve access to emergency healthcare and forensic evidence collection services for survivors of sexual assault. The consult line is staffed by specially trained and experienced registered nurses who provide guidance to healthcare providers conducting medical and forensic exams. These nurses can also answer questions about sexual assault examinations and forensic evidence collection. You can call the AHS Sexual Assault Health Care Provider Consult Line through AHS’s RAAPID referral service at:
    • 1-800-661-1700 – for patients in and south of Red Deer
    • 1-800-282-9911 – for patients north of Red Deer

For treatment and counselling inquiries, contact: regulatorycompliance@acmdtt.com